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Students search for jobs at fair

Gelhaus, Anna | Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Heavy snow and biting winds didn’t stop Notre Dame students from attending Tuesday’s Winter Career and Internship Fair. The Career Center sponsored the annual event, offering a forum for students and employers to interact. Students from all majors and levels were encouraged to attend. Anita Rees, associate director of the Career Center, described Tuesday’s turnout as “A-plus” and “No. 1.” She said that a few employers had to cancel because of the weather, but praised the commitment of those who struggled to arrive. Jim Heffernan, a representative from Travelers, approximated his involvement with the fair at 10 years. He described this year’s experience as successful. “I’ve seen a lot of students,” Heffernan said. “Many [of them] seniors, but also many other levels.” Nathan Frisbee, a representative from Schlumberger Technology Corp., also praised the event. “I’d say that Notre Dame students present themselves very professionally,” Frisbee said. “Much more so than public school ones.”Rees was happy with what she saw. “I [saw] resumes piled on tables, superb resumes, long lines and rather lengthy conversations between students and employers,” she said. She added that even if a student fails to get a job, “They have still learned valuable skills and developed relationships” in their field.But in terms of trying to land a job, Rees advised students to “study and research employers,” Rees advised job-seeking students. “Know something about them, so they know why you want to join them.” Rees also said that students are encouraged to use the Career Center, located in Flanner Hall, to review their resume or attend workshops. Schlumberger Tech specifically attended the fair in search of students who are “decisive, adventurous, and highly mobile,” said Frisbee. Barb Naperalsky, who represented Walgreens, said that her company looks for students who are “ambitious, aggressive individuals who want to succeed.” “We’ve seen a nice diversity with majors,” she said. While looking for retail managers, she said was glad to find so many students with technological and business backgrounds.